Sharing his story with your students

TERRY FOX Lesson Plan

Lesson: Our Terry Fox Walk/Run and Keeping Terry’s Dream Alive

Learning Goal: Students will have a better understanding of their school’s participation in annual Terry Fox Walks/Runs. Students will recognize the benefits of teamwork and how they can help in achieving a common goal. Students will be able to discuss the reasons why we support the Terry Fox Foundation in keeping Terry’s Dream alive.

Materials/Media:• Appendix A: History of Terry Fox Runs/Walks at Our School• Appendix B: Why Should We Continue to Keep Terry’s Dream Alive?• Appendix C: Personal Fundraising Goal Sheet • Refer to research updates at terryfox.org • Chart paper and markers

Instructions:1. Review: Terry had a goal of raising $1 from every Canadian for cancer research. When he realized he

wasn’t going to be able to continue with his Marathon of Hope, he said that others would have to continue for him. Terry wanted everyone to realize that when we work together at something, we are much more successful than trying to do it all on our own.

2. Importance of fundraising - the ability to give back and help others. You may want to talk about the school’s involvement in various initiatives throughout the years (raising money for new computers, gym equipment, other charities, etc.). Parents may donate money to various organizations, through their work or on their own. We also donate clothes, toys, books, etc., so others can use them.

3. We fundraise in order to help others in need. Terry wanted to raise money to put towards cancer research, so we could live in a world that was cancer free. The Terry Fox Foundation was set up in order to continue Terry’s dream. Using Appendix B: Why should we continue to keep Terry’s dream alive?, fill in the chart with reasons to continue supporting cancer research with the Terry Fox Foundation.

Quote from Terry: “That’s the thing about cancer. I’m not the only one, it happens all the time to people. I’m not special. This just intensifies what I did. It gives it more meaning. It’ll inspire more

people...I just wish people would realize that anything’s possible if you try. When I started this Run, I said that if we all gave one dollar, we’d have $22 million for cancer research, and I don’t care man, there’s

no reason that isn’t possible. No reason.” This shows Terry’s belief in the power in working together.

Extension: Students may wish to create their own personal fundraising goal sheet where they can keep track of their fundraising efforts or use Appendix C: Personal Fundraising Goal Sheet.

Assessment: Use student response and information to assess understanding. Make note of how well students work in group situations. Curriculum Expectations: Oral Communication • Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate speaking behaviour in a few different situations,

including paired sharing and small- and large- group discussions. Writing • Generate ideas about a potential topic, using a variety of strategies and resources.Math - Data and Probability • Collect and organize categorical primary data and display the data using concrete.

Using Appendix A: History of Terry Fox Runs/Walks at Our School, discuss how long your school has been doing The Terry Fox Run/Walk, what things have been done to raise money, how much has been raised so far, etc.

Unfortunately cancer touches the lives of many people, young and old. Ask if students know anyone who has cancer, who is a cancer survivor or passed away from cancer.

Highlight key information about: believing in miracles, continuing where Terry left off, working together to have a world free of cancer and helping others who may be suffering, etc. Refer to research updates at terryfox.org to show students what all of our great efforts to raise money for The Terry Fox Foundation has done.

Students work in groups to brainstorm ideas of how they can raise money for cancer research.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Some of the things we have done, or might do, during our Terry Fox fundraising campaign:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Our school started participating in __________.

Appendix A: History of Terry Fox Runs/Walks at our School

The first Terry Fox Run/Walk was held in 1981.

This is going to be our __________ year participating.

Our goal this year is to raise $ __________.

This is going to be our __________ year participating.

So far, we have raised $__________ to help support cancer research.

Appendix B: Why should we keep Terry’s dream alive?

Use words and pictures to explain your ideas.

Appendix C: Personal Fundraising Goal Sheet

KEEP GOING!

START!

GO FOR IT!

ON MY WAY!

ALMOST THERE!

I’VE REACHED MY GOAL!

My goal is to collect _____ donations.

My goal is to collect $_____

for cancer research.